Forest of Dean

Forest of Dean's population grew older in the decade to 2011. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, family life and housing tenure.

The population reached nearly 82,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Forest of Dean increased by 2.5%, from almost 80,000 to 82,000.

The addition of almost 2,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Forest of Dean was home to, on average, 1.1 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Forest of Dean

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Forest of Dean increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This rural area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of about 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 3,000.

About 14% of people in Forest of Dean are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Forest of Dean by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Forest of Dean

Forest of Dean saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability.

In 2011, just over 1 in 25 (4.1%) in Forest of Dean reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities, compared with 3.1% in 2001. The percentage who are slightly limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.5% to 7.7%.

Across the region, only Torbay saw a greater rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability (from 4.1% to 5.3%).

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability, as the regional average grew from 3.0% to 3.7%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Forest of Dean

The number of people in Forest of Dean that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 62,000 in 2001 to just under 54,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 77% to 66% of the local population.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South West (from 74% to 60%) and the average across England (from 72% to 59%).

The number of people in Forest of Dean that described themselves as having no religion increased from about 11,000 in 2001 to about 21,000 in 2011 (from 14% to 25%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from about 6,700 to just over 6,500 (from 8.4% to 7.9%).

About 440 people (0.3%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 220 in 2001 (0.5%).

The population who identified as Christian in Forest of Dean decreased by 11 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Forest of Dean by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

Forest of Dean saw the South West's second-largest fall in the proportion of households with children.

In 2011, just over one in four (26%) households in Forest of Dean had at least one dependent child, compared with 30% in 2001. The percentage with no children increased from 60% to 63%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly saw a greater fall in the proportion of households with children (from 24% to 20%).

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Forest of Dean saw the South West's second-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) in Forest of Dean reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.0% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.5%.

Across the region, only Torbay saw a greater rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care (from 2.8% to 3.6%).

Every local authority area across the South West saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 2.0% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Forest of Dean remained close to 2.7%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Forest of Dean by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work life

Forest of Dean saw the South West's third-largest fall in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over one in two (50%) people aged 16 to 74 in Forest of Dean said they were employed, compared with 52% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 3.0% to 3.5%.

Across the region, only Bath and North East Somerset (from 52% to 50%) and Swindon (from 63% to 61%) saw a greater decrease in the proportion of employed people.

During this period, Forest of Dean fell below Bath and North East Somerset to become the South West local authority area with the ninth-lowest percentage of employed people.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Forest of Dean that rented privately increased from 6.9% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in eight (12%) households lived in social housing, compared with 14% in 2001. The percentage of Forest of Dean households that owned their home decreased from 76% to 74%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a slower rate here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Forest of Dean increased by 4.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Forest of Dean, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Forest of Dean residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.5% to 5.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68% in 2001. The percentage of Forest of Dean residents that described their health as fair decreased from 24% to 14%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.5% in 2001 to 5.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Forest of Dean decreased by 3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Forest of Dean, the South West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Forest of Dean working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 14% to 11% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.7% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Forest of Dean decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Forest of Dean, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Forest of Dean that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.8% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Forest of Dean increased from 24% to 27%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing household dynamics

The percentage of households in Forest of Dean, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.7% to 8.0% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 43% in 2001. The percentage of households in Forest of Dean, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.2% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.0% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the South West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

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